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The study, published in the prestigious medical journal of American Medical Association (JAMA) on its today's theme issue, was conducted by a research team led by Farah Husain, D.M.D., M.P.H., of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, USA.
The team has carried out a health survey between July and September 2009 among 1,517 households in Jaffna District including two internally displaced person (IDP) camps to estimate the prevalence of the most common war-related mental health conditions, symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depression, and to assess the association between displacement status and these conditions in postwar Jaffna District, Sri Lanka.
The study received a high response of 92 percent from 1,448 subjects of which 1,409 were eligible. Among the respondents 2% were currently displaced, 29.5 % were recently resettled, and 68.5 % were long-term residents.
The researchers discovered that compared with long-term residents, currently displaced participants were more likely to report symptoms of PTSD and depression while recently resettled residents were more likely to report symptoms of PTSD. However, displacement was no longer associated with mental health symptoms after controlling for trauma exposure. The overall occurrence of PTSD was 7.0%, with 32.6% suffering from anxiety and 22.2% experiencing depression symptoms.
The study concluded that among residents of Jaffna District, prevalence of symptoms of war-related mental health conditions was substantial and significantly associated with displacement status and underlying trauma exposure.
The researchers wrote that although the association between displacement status and symptoms of PTSD, depression, and anxiety was no longer significant after adjusting for trauma exposure in this study, the act of being displaced and the daily stressors associated with it may be considered traumatic in themselves and may be an indicator or proxy for recent trauma as well.
The team suggested that interventions in Sri Lanka should target the most vulnerable populations, mainly those living in displacement camps and include support from family, friends, religious leaders, and traditional counselors.
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